The climate crisis can be overwhelming to think about. Here’s how to cope while making positive changes

Climate change is one of the biggest worries among the minds of the younger generation. And rightfully so.

Young people are warning the older generation about their impact on climate change, from buying new clothes to improper recycling. Those things, and everything in between, have been contributing to carbon emissions and changing the world right before our eyes.

While natural disasters have been worrying many for decades, the latest UK heatwave has only heightened anxieties about what’s to come. It’s clear that action from businesses and governments, as well as individuals, needs to be taken — and the lack of this is worrying young people across the globe.

To help you combat your fears and emotions around climate change, and take action, let’s get into exactly what climate anxiety is, how climate anxiety affects mental health, why it’s affecting young people and what you can do to quell the worries and anxieties that follow.

What is climate anxiety?

Climate anxiety, also known as eco-anxiety, involves strong feelings of worry or anxiety about the climate change crisis. People experiencing it may feel overwhelmed by the lack of government support, change, and the collapse of natural ecosystems. Ultimately, it’s making people fearful about what’s to come. Some who experience climate anxiety may also experience fear, guilt, grief and anger.

How does climate change affect mental health?

Extreme weather has caused mass destruction of environments across the world. Without proper intervention, extreme weather events such as large storms, flooding, droughts and heatwaves are likely to become more frequent and more intense with climate change. Both experiencing and worrying about these types of events can cause significant stress and distress for many and can contribute to more serious mental health issues. 

This video by the American Psychiatric Association does an amazing job at explaining how climate change affects mental health, from those experiencing natural disasters to those on medication.

Is climate anxiety affecting young people?

A survey on climate anxiety in young people asked 10,000 people in 10 countries how they felt about climate change and government responses to it. 

Climate change makes them feel…

• Sad (68%)
• Afraid (68%)
• Anxious (63%)
• Angry (58%)
• Powerless (57%)
• Guilty (51%)
• Optimistic (32%)
• Indifferent (30%).

As you can see, the majority of these feelings are negative towards climate change, with anxieties, evidently, being very real.

The countries with the highest proportion of respondents who felt ‘very worried’ or ‘extremely worried’ by climate change were the Philippines (84%), India (68%) and Brazil (67%), nations that have been hard-hit by climate change. 

Portugal, where wildfires are becoming increasingly severe, had the highest level of ‘very worried’ or ‘extremely worried’ respondents (65%) out of the high-income countries surveyed, which included France, Finland, Australia and the United States.

But it’s not just natural disasters that are causing climate anxiety. The perceived lack of action and support from governments is also feeding into this. 

When asked about how governments are responding to climate change:

• 65% of respondents agreed with the statement that governments are failing young people
• 64% agreed that they are lying about the impact of actions taken
• 60% agreed they were dismissing people’s distress

It’s clear that not feeling heard or seeing actions from the government is arousing these feelings in young people. In fact, among those who said they have talked to others about climate change (81%), nearly half reported being ignored or dismissed.

We’ll dive into ways to cope with climate anxiety, as well as how you can educate yourself and others when climate change comes up in conversation.

How to manage climate anxiety

A licenced Clinical Psychologist at the Climate Psychology Alliance, Kelsey Hudson, PhD, told us:

“Climate distress is a reasonable and understandable response to the climate crisis, so young people should be encouraged to fully experience and express their climate-related thoughts and feelings and not avoid or push them away. Young people can then focus on building a toolkit of strategies that help them to regulate distress and cope effectively with challenging emotions.”

And why is this toolkit of coping techniques so vital for dealing with climate anxiety? Kelsey goes on to explain, “Being able to use coping skills is particularly important because climate change is both an urgent and long-term stressor and requires us to navigate challenges in the past, present and future.

If you think you might have climate anxiety, here are ways to manage it and make a difference at the same time.

Focus on the things you can control

It can feel disheartening when thinking about the magnitude of changes that need to be made for a sustainable future. One person simply can’t take on all of those problems.

Instead, look around at your current situation and see what you can change instead. Have you voted for politicians who support climate action? Have you always wanted to try going vegan? Start up a green/eco society at college or uni? These are just some of the ways you can take control and encourage change in yourself and others.

Kelsey explains that “young people are encouraged to engage in actions that build a sense of meaning and purpose. These actions are usually most effective if they are in an area that matters to the young person (vs. doing something they feel like they “should” do). Many people feel less isolated and more supported when they engage in these actions as a part of a group or collective with like-minded individuals.”

For example, you could channel your feelings into taking action by volunteering for climate charities. If you’re short on time, do you have the capacity to donate to eco causes or can you put your name to a petition? These charities take action to bring about much-needed change:

• WWF
• The Climate Coalition
• Greenpeace
• Friends of the Earth

Only look at credible sources

Keeping up with credible sources such as The Economist is vital for staying abreast with trends and climate news. They fact-check everything and offer in-depth analysis of current issues. At Student Beans, you can get The Economist student discount with 75% off an annual digital subscription, which will help keep you on top of all things climate change, and offer trusted sources for your studies too.

This is important because it can help you backup your arguments when trying to inspire change in those who still aren’t convinced. Having the right resources, stats and knowledge is power!

Put self-care first

If you’ve noticed anxieties creeping up more than usual, then it’s time to look inward and take some time out.

Go for walks, read that book you’ve been putting off, and go on a full digital detox (yes, including all socials). Do what feels good, you know yourself best.

Talk it out with friends or a professional

Climate anxiety is very real and shouldn’t be ignored. Talking about it out loud can offer a lot of relief.

Confide in friends you trust, or speak to a college or uni counsellor about the issue. Their job is to listen and offer practical coping tips that’ll help when you’re in distress.

Remember others feel what you’re feeling

You’re not alone in the fight against climate change. There are many activists and young minds saddened by the rate at which the world is changing. Find ways to connect with these people by using socials (not in your detox though, if you need it), forums or local initiatives.

How to help others cope with climate anxiety

Are you and your friends feeling climate anxiety take over? There are healthy ways to ensure you can take control and reassure others. You may even want to use these tips to help those younger than yourself. They’ll also help when you have a conversation with those sceptical about the issue.

Validate their feelings

Using affirmative statements of “yes, your feelings make sense and are valid” can reassure others and younger people that their worries are heard.

Education is key

Educating yourself helps educate others. Spend time gathering trusted sites, books and other sources of information to keep you abreast of climate change and coping with the anxieties that come with it.

Support others’ changes

Change is scary. If you’ve managed to influence others to make positive changes in their lifestyle, don’t just leave them to it. It’s hard. Guide them through it and offer support where you can.

You do have some power

Choosing how and where to spend your money can not only influence your friends and family but also the businesses and governments providing the products. Fast fashion, meat production and palm oil deforestation are some of the major causes of global warming. 

We’re not saying cut these out entirely (though this is the best way to chip away at the problem if we all did it collectively), but by simply making small lifestyle changes you can influence demand for different products and make a big difference.

Shop vintage or thrift in charity shops, buy cruelty-free/vegan products and challenge yourself to meat-free days/weeks. It could save you some money too!

Plant trees

Charities like World Land Trust support a range of projects across the globe, from land purchase and protection to tree planting and offsetting emissions. Although they’re one example, getting involved with initiatives like this can contribute to saving the planet.

We hope these tips have helped give you an idea of how to calm your climate anxiety and worries. We understand it’s a very real issue and the practical tips mentioned in this article are for informational purposes. If climate anxiety is causing a lot of distress, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional.

This post is sponsored by The Economist.